Mattie McGrath: Insurance crisis threatens local water-sports centre
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about AccuSplash, a water-sports business in Dummernair and Neenag out of Tipperary, after insurers refused to renew its policy following reopening from lockdown. He urged urgent government action, saying the entrepreneur-run facility faces closure because insurers will not renew cover and the business has already struggled with planning and prior lockdown closures.
Insurance refusals and business impact
The company’s insurance runs out next month and, McGrath said, not one insurer will renew their insurance. He said the business had tied outside with insurance companies that are regulated here in Ireland and those companies also refused. He warned that water-sports activities could be closed in the coming months because operators cannot obtain cover.
Local use and community value
McGrath described AccuSplash as a young entrepreneur’s facility and a valuable asset for the community and surrounding counties, used by young people for sport and exercise. He cited personal use by his family, noting his daughter and granddaughter used the facility last year to illustrate its local importance.
Planning and multi-year struggles
He said this is the fifth year running that the business has faced considerable difficulty with planning and with insurance. McGrath emphasised that the site had only just reopened after lockdown and criticised the insurers’ stance, calling the situation "blackmailing of the highest order."
Government response and next steps
The Taoiseach acknowledged that insurance companies are pulling back from the market and that there are specific challenges for amenities of this kind. He said he had taken the concerns seriously and would ask the minister to engage with the company to seek a resolution.
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Mr Stephen Fitzgerald of AccuSplash. AccuSplash is based in Dummernair and Neenag out of Tipperary and just reopened after the lockdown. The insurance runs out next month. Not one insurer will renew their insurance and they have tied outside with insurance companies that are regulated here in Ireland. They also refused. They just got over the lockdowns and now they're back in business. This is the fifth year running and they have had considerable difficulty with planning and with insurance. And it's an excellent facility. My daughter, Mairead, and my grand-daughter, Carol Rowe, used it last year. And all these water sports are going to be closed in the next coming months. You can't get insurance. So when is your government going to do something with insurance, captains that are going on? They won't pay any people for COVID claims. Now they want to insure viable, valuable assets. This is a young entrepreneur, a brilliant asset for the community, for the surrounding counties and young people and sport and exercise and everything we should do outside. And they've been closed because of insurance. This is blackmailing of the highest order and I want you to do something. First of all, there has been challenges for specific amenities of this kind in terms of getting insurance and it's unacceptable and insurance companies are pulling back from the market at an increasing rate. I don't know the exact specifics of this, but I've taken on board what you're saying very seriously. And I will ask Minister Sean Fleming to engage with the company. Thank you. Thank you, Taoiseach.
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